Changemaker Legal

Putting ongoing legal counsel & management guidance within reach of changemakers who combat inequity & transform society

Changemaker Legal

Application for 2025 - 2026

Cohort Program

Program Overview

Changemaker Legal is a nonprofit firm providing free and low-cost direct legal guidance and advisory support to grassroots nonprofits and social enterprises. It is dedicated to putting ongoing legal counsel and management guidance within reach of changemakers who combat inequity and transform society. Changemaker Legal’s inaugural program will provide tailored assistance, including legal advice, business planning guidance, and access to resources for DC-based changemakers. Program participants will attend workshops on topics such as organizational governance, intellectual property, contract drafting and negotiation, and data protection and privacy.

Program participation includes the following activities from July 2025 to July 2026:

● At least 2 hours per month of legal services,

● At least 1 hour per month of business advising,

● Workshops led by industry experts, and

● Networking and relationship-building opportunities.

We anticipate participants will commit about four to eight hours per month to the above programming.

All of the above programming will be offered for free during the program year. Program participants may purchase additional legal services from Changemaker Legal during or after their participation in the program at under-market rates.

Application Instructions

Please complete the following application to apply for the program by May 23rd. If you have any questions or need assistance with this application, please contact us at 202-992-5116 or info@changemakerlegal.org.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; preference will be given to early applicants.

Applicant Information

Organization or Business Name:

Name of Contact Person:

Contact’s Title/Position:

Contact’s Email Address:

Contact’s Phone Number:

Website (if applicable):

Organizational Information

Type of Entity (select one):

Nonprofit Organization

Social Enterprise (formed as a Sole Proprietorship, GP, LP, LLP, Corporation, LLC, or other for-profit entity type)

Entity type to be determined

State/District of Incorporation or Formation (if applicable):

Year Established:

Nature of Activities.

Explain the programs or sales you conduct (i.e., service provision, advocacy, product sales, goods sales, etc.)

Mission Statement (may be in draft form).

Briefly describe your mission and goals.

Target Community or Customers (may be in draft form).

Describe the community or population your organization or business serves or will serve.

Program Participation

Why do you want to participate in Changemaker Legal’s 2025-2026 Program?

Describe why your organization or business seeks legal and business guidance and how it will benefit your operations.

How does your background equip or prepare you for running this organization or business?

Explain what skills, training, background, and talents you have that are relevant to your project.

Tell us about a time you received critical feedback regarding your organization or business and how you incorporated it.

Why are you unable to pay for legal and business services at market rates?

Explain your financial situation with sufficient detail to demonstrate why you cannot afford $5,000 - $40,000 in legal fees.

Do you have any existing legal, business, or accounting support?

If you answered "yes" to the above question, please describe:

Who are your directors or board members?

Tell us how many directors or board members you have and a bit about their personal and professional backgrounds.

Attach any additional information that would be helpful for our review (business plans, budgets, organizational lifecycle plans, etc.).

Authorization, Release, and Certification

I hereby authorize Changemaker Legal and its directors and officers to verify and make copies of any information provided in this application in the course of determining eligibility for the program. I hereby release any person or entity complying with this authorization from any claims relating to the disclosure of any such information and documents. A copy of this authorization shall be as valid as the original.

By signing below, I certify that the information provided in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that participation in this program may involve regular communication and cooperation with Changemaker Legal, including approximately four to eight hours per month of program participation.

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Name

Date

Month

Day

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Changemaker Legal

Application for 2025 - 2026

Cohort Program

Program Overview

Application Instructions

Applicant Information

Organizational Information

Program Participation

Authorization, Release, and Certification

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